PORSCHE HAS BEEN BOOSTING FOR HALF A CENTURY, CELEBRATES WITH 50 YEARS OF TURBO AT RETRO CLASSICS
If you have the means, you can go on a journey through turbocharged automotive history with Porsche at the 2024 instalment of Retro Classics Stuttgart at the end of April. The iconic sports car manufacturer will be commemorating a monumental milestone: "Beyond Performance – 50 Years of Porsche Turbo." Retro Classics Stuttgart draws enthusiasts from around the globe, making it the perfect stage for Porsche to showcase its boosted heritage. According to Achim Stejskal, Director of Porsche Heritage and Museum, "The Turbo derivatives epitomize Porsche's spirit of innovation like no other model." Travel back to 1974 when Porsche unveiled the legendary 911 Turbo at the Paris Motor Show, revolutionizing the automotive landscape and get exclusive background information in a special Turbo Talk presentation featuring Stéphane Ortelli, esteemed racing driver who won the Le Mans 24-hour race for Porsche in the Porsche 911 GT1 in 1998 with teammates Laurent Aïello and Allan McNish, as she delves into the Turbo's illustrious legacy and poses for pics and signs autographs. The Turbo celebration isn't just about cars; it's about the stories behind them. In 1974, the sports car manufacturer presented the first series 911 Turbo at the Paris Motor Show, the turbo technology that migrated from motorsport to series production in characteristic Porsche fashion. On Saturday, April 27th at 2 pm, Thomas Krickelberg, Project Manager in the 911/718 model line at Porsche and Frank Jung, Head of the Company Archive, will talk to the Monegasque racing driver and Le Mans winner Stéphane Ortelli about the Turbo. The company will also be showing the first 911 Turbo - the one which saw Porsche usher in a new era: The Porsche 911 Turbo “No. 1” that Louise Piëch received for her 70th birthday in the summer of 1974. In contrast to the Turbo models offered by the manufacturer from the spring of 1975 on, Piëch’s gift had the narrow body of the 911 Carrera and the bonnet of the 176 kW sports car bears the “Carrera” logo instead of the “Turbo” logo. To see the picturesque mountain landscapes of Austria in true-to-life colours, the daughter of Ferdinand Porsche refrained from tinting the windscreen. A badge on the glove compartment bears the initials LP and the inscription: Turbo-Porsche No. 1, Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, 29 Aug. 1974.
There will also be the 911 Turbo 3.0 Coupé from 1975 displayed in Silver Green Diamond paint that was one of the first 30 Turbos to be completed in series production. The mirrors matched those of the Carrera and were painted in the exterior colour, while the wider wings were welded to the body by hand. Another crowd-puller at the over 500-square-metre stand is a 911 GT2 with wing extensions and additional air intakes. Also on show at the fair is the 911 GT1 ‘98, a lightweight racer that tips the scales at just 970 kg thanks to a carbon-fibre monocoque and plastic outer shell. The water-cooled twin-turbocharged 3.2-litre, 6-cylinder generated around 404 kW and it served as a test vehicle throughout its career, later as a stand-in for photo shoots. The 911 Turbo S was one of only 435 models built by Porsche Exclusive and featured 331 kW making it one of the most powerful of the 911-993. The 911 Turbo S “Duet” from 2020 came from a cooperation between Porsche and the aircraft manufacturer Embraer. Buyers of a Phenom 300E business jet could buy a matching 911 Turbo S in a silver two-tone finish with details like side air intakes and trims on the side windows in brilliant chrome inspired by jet engines, the individual registration of the associated jet could be found on the underside of the rear wing and on the key and the panels of the door sills feature the words “No step” as seen on the plane’s wings. There will be two engine exhibits, one from 1988 representing the 2nd generation of the Turbo powerplant and the other display features the 7th generation powerplant. The company will also have exhibits from the archive like the original drawing of the Turbo logo from 1974 as well as advertisements and the equipment card of the first Turbo.
Take a look at the YouTube video from last year's awesome Retro Classics event held in Stuttgart, Germany last year. The event is one of the best on the European motoring calendar and as you can see, the 2024 instalment will be the perfect place to celebrate 50 years of Turbo: Retro Classics Stuttgart 2023 | Cars & Travel
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